Obituary Notices by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 1, 1873

Obituary Notices.

By George I. Butler

Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.

DIED, near Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Feb. 25, 1873, our beloved brother, Jacob Hare, aged fifty-two years, eight months, and twelve days.

Bro. Hare was born in Green Co., Ohio, in 1820. He was converted at an early age, and was a class-leader in the Methodist church for many years, and during the last years of his connection, held a license to exhort. He began to keep the Sabbath of the Lord in 1863. Since that time, he has been a firm believer in the doctrines held by our people. He received a license to preach, from the Iowa Conference, in June, 1871, and was ordained to the ministry in June, 1872. He labored with the Southern Iowa tent last summer with great earnestness. He was taken sick with pleurisy and inflammation of the brain, Dec. 14. He partially recovered from this attack, so as to go to town upon business, but had a relapse, and gradually sank, till death closed the scene. He had all the care in his sickness that kind affection could bestow.

Bro. Hare was an ardent, energetic man, of decided convictions; one whose influence would be felt among any class of associates. He never feared to express his convictions decidedly whatever others might think. There was no taint of double-dealing about him. During the last year, he consecrated himself especially to the work of God, and in his last sickness, as he drew near to the close of earthly hopes, he became as meek and tender spirited as a child. He seemed to summon up all the past scenes of his life, and he examined them critically, that he might clear himself of everything that was wrong. He felt that the Lord Jesus came very near to him, and he seemed every way prepared to close his earthly career. I had the happiness of sharing his affection and confidence, and as I write these poor lines I feel the loss of a faithful and devoted friend. A large circle of friends mourn their loss. He was a most affectionate husband and father, and that sad-stricken family circle can never be complete till formed anew in the golden city. God grant that it may there unite without the loss of one. His church and Conference have met with a sad loss. Yet we cannot mourn so much for him as for those he has left behind. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth!” He rests in hope, while we are left to toil, to suffer, and to wait. May our closing scene be as peaceful and full of hope as was that of our brother now sleeping so sweetly beneath the sod.

GEO. I. BUTLER.